Life-preserver.



A. BNGSTRM. LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

Patented oct. 10,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

ANDERS ENGSTRM, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDERS ENGSTRM, a native and subject of the King ofSweden, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates t o life preservers, and is designed to provide alife preserver which will normally be collapsed, but which may beinflated by gas generating tanks carried by the preserver.

lVith the above and other objects in view, this invention consists inthe construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all ashereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation of a lifepreserver constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2is a transverse section taken along line 2 2 of Fig. l, illustrating thelife preserver extended; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken throughthe life preserver and one of the gas generating tanks, illustrating thelife preserver collapsed; Fig. el is a central vertical section of thegas generating tank.

Reference being had to the drawings, 10 indicates a flexible belt havingat the terminals thereof any suitable buckles or straps 11 and 12respectively. An elastic bag 13 is mounted on the belt 10, and issurrounded by the mesh 14 which forms a protection for the bag 13. Thebag 13 normally tends to assume the position shown in Fig. 3, and doesnot form a cumbersome structure.

A pair of tanks 15 is carried on the outer side of the bag 13, and hasconnected to the interior thereof a conduit or duct 16. This tank isprovided with an inner tank 17 which is connected to the main tank 15 bya spring pressed valve 18 which is normally retained closed. The valve18' is operated Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 26, 1910.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 583,937.

by a cord or other flexible operating member 19 extending to theexterior of the tank 15 and secured to a ring 2O on the forward side ofsaid tank. The inner tank 17 is adapted to contain water while the maintank 15 contains a carbid. Thus when the valve 18 is opened and waterenters the tank 15, a gas will be formed which will enter the bag 13through the port or duct 16, thereby inflating the same. The tank 15 isprovided with an opening 21 in one extremity thereof which is closed bya threaded plug 22, thus permitting the carbid to be placed in the tank15. The inner tank 17 has an opening 23 at one extremity thereof whichis closed by an orificed plug 24. Thus when a person is in the water thetank 17 is constantly filled with water. A screen 25 is disposed on eachside of the lower terminal of the reservoir 17 and prevents the passageof dirt from the reservoir 17 to the carbid chamber 15, and alsoprevents the passage of dirt from the carbid chamber 15 to the pneumaticbelt 13.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is A lifepreserver comprising a belt, an elastic bag secured thereto, a main tankcarried by said bag and having communication therewith, an inner tankmounted on said main tank and projecting thereinto to form passage wayson each side of said inner tank, foraminous material covering saidpassage ways, means whereby said inner tank may be normally filled withwater when in an operative position, and a flexible operating memberpassing through the top of said inner tank for opening communicationbetween the latter and said main tank for the purposes herein set forth.

ln testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDERS ENGSTROM.

Witnesses: A

A. W. LUNDGREN, Y l JOHN OsLUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

